Quotes About Humility

Clement of Rome, A.D. 96

For Christ is of those who are humble-minded, and not of those who exalt themselves over his flock. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Sceptre of the majesty of God, did not come in the pomp of pride or arrogance, although He might have done so, but in a lowly condition, as the Holy Spirit has declared regarding Him. For He says, "Lord, who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? We have proclaimed [our message] in his presence: He is, as it were, a child, and like a root in thirsty ground; He has no form nor glory. Yes, we saw Him, and he had no form nor comeliness, but his form was without eminence. Yes, it was deficient in comparison with the form of men. He is a man exposed to stripes and suffering, and acquainted with the endurance of grief ... He was despised, and not esteemed" [Is. 53:1-3]. (1 Clement 16, italicized brackets mine, normal texts in brackets are from translators of The Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. I.)

Let our praise be in God and not from ourselves, for God hates those that commend themselves. Let testimony to our good deeds be borne by others, as it was in the case of our righteous forefathers. Boldness, arrogance, and audacity belong to those that are accursed of God, but moderation, humility, and meekness to those that are blessed by Him. (1 Clement 30)

Clement of Alexandria, c. A.D. 190

And it occurs to me to wonder how some dare call themselves perfect and gnostics, with ideas of themselves above the apostle, inflated and boastful, when Paul admitted about himself, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which I am apprehended of Christ. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forth to those that are before, I press toward the mark, for the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus." And yet he reckons himself perfect because he has been emancipated from his former life, and strives after the better life, not as perfect in knowledge, but as aspiring after perfection. Therefore also he adds, "As many of us as are perfect are thus minded," manifestly describing perfection as the renunciation of sin, regeneration into the faith of the only perfect One, and forgetting our former sins. (The Instructor I:6)

Zac Poonen, c. 2011

The three secrets of the christian life are: 1. humility 2. humility 3. humility. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. (unknown)

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